§ SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHERsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to fill up the Sheriffships at present vacant in Scotland?
MR. BRUCEreplied, that it was proposed to unite Kincardine with Aberdeen. With respect to Shetland and Orkney it was proposed that they should be united with Caithness, which was united with Sutherland. In that case the sheriff of Sutherland would also be appointed Sheriff of Ross. With regard to Fife, a sheriff would be appointed, and when a vacancy occurred in Clackmannan and Kinross, they would be united with Fife. These arrangements were substantially in consonance with the recommendations of the Scotch Judicature Commission.